Today’s foot massagers are reliable, easy-to-use devices that require very little maintenance. They’ve come a long way in the past decade or so and today make acceptable standins for the professional masseuse.
Everyone would love to be able to ring up their favorite massage therapist after a long day and get some relief for their tired, aching feet. Here in the real world, however, that’s simply not an option for most of us. We either have to do the work ourselves, soak our feet in hot water for a half hour or so or just live with the discomfort.
If you spend long hours on your feet or suffer from arthritis, bunions, DVT or other conditions there’s an electric foot massager that can help. Below are the best foot massagers for 2023.
Rankings
1. Nekteck Foot Massager
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This nifty, compact device has 18 rotating massage nodes that work the bottom of your feet like a pro. The Nekteck Massager is particularly effective for those suffering from plantar fasciitis or flat feet.
What we like: Those heated, rotating nodes are going to feel great to anyone that’s been standing all day dealing with customers, directing traffic or participating in a walkathon. It slips easily into the space under the sofa or bed, has 3 levels of height adjustment and doesn’t gorge on electricity.
We appreciate being able to switch the heat function on or off. The massage nodes don’t feel clumsy or punitive like some others. And the compact nature of the device means it will work just about anywhere.
Flaws: It doesn’t get as warm as some other foot massagers. And the fact that your feet aren’t inserted into the device means that if you doze off your feet will fall off.
2. Manur Shiatsu Foot Massager
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The Manur Shiatsu Foot Massager is a handsome, effective unit that lets you slip your feet in and kick back. You have 3 adjustment levels for the roller and 2 for the heat levels. There’s also an air bag massage feature that works the top and heel of the foot and can be engaged or disengaged.
What we like: Simply put we like the way our feet feel when they’re inside the Manur Shiatsu Foot Massager. More specifically, we like the combination of roller massage and heat and appreciate that we can adjust things to suit our needs.
When your feet are inside the unit and the heat and massage features are doing their thing it’s quite a feeling. It also features auto shut-off and has built in overheat protection.
Flaws: There’s no remote, so you need to reach down and do the adjustments by hand. It’s also fairly bulky and won’t fit under the couch.
3. Best Choice Products Shiatsu Foot Massager
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This is the largest unit on our list and we seriously considered giving it a pass because of its size. But we wound up including it because it makes such a compelling argument for itself. It provides 4 massage settings and 3 different massage modes (auto, personal, manual).
What we like: It feels great whether it’s kneading, rolling or pulsating. And not having to disrupt the party and lean over to make adjustments is a big plus.
Whichever settings you pick you’re going to be impressed by how effectively it works the kinks out of your foot muscles. And it provides a handy remote so you can sit back and change the action without having to lean over.
Flaws: It’s big. There’s no way you’re going to slip it under the sofa. Also, there’s no heat option.
4. Conair Active Life Waterfall Foot Spa
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The Conair Active Life Waterfall Foot Spa is an all-purpose water-based foot massage unit that provides relief through its combination water treatments and heat. It augments those components with a variety of attachments including a scrub brush and soft-touch massager.
What we like: This is a different approach to foot massage that’s surprisingly effective. It’s a solid choice for those who just want to relieve some stress and strain.
Once you figure out the logistics you’ll be free to reap the benefits. Enjoy the LED light show while your feet are showered with warm, rejuvenating falling water.
Flaws: The open-top construction means you should probably place it on a towel. Also, this is not designed to address serious issues like edema, bunions or plantar fasciitis. So keep your expectations in check.
5. Cloud Massage Shiatsu Massager
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The Cloud Massage Shiatsu Massager has an adjustable support leg that enables you to angle it upward. This way you can take up a more natural position while having your feet massaged. You can also stand it almost vertical so you can slip your calves into it and amp up the lower body relief.
What we like: If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, have flat feet or are prone to edema, this is a solid choice. It offers multiple compression and heat settings as well as a vibration setting to work on tight muscles. It’s not cheap but it does what it says it will.
The ability to massage both feet and lower legs is a big plus. As is the fact that it can be used laying down or sitting up. And, as we mentioned, it provides a fair level of relief from plantar fasciitis pain.
Flaws: It features multiple settings. But if you want to adjust those settings you have to lean forward and do it manually because there’s no remote.
6. Miko Shiatsu Foot Massager
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The Miko Shiatsu Foot Massager looks like an alien spaceship but works like charm. The main focus here is the application of relaxing, rejuvenating heat. Slip your feet inside and enjoy that heat along with the combination of reflexology nodes and air compression therapy.
What we like: We like that we can choose which combination of features to enjoy. We appreciate how well it relieves stress and strain and we like that it’s low profile enough to tuck away under most sofas.
If your feet are sore and tired after a long day it’s going to deliver relief in pretty short order. It’s also reliable, reasonably energy efficient and covered by a 1 year warranty.
Flaws: It doesn’t do a great job addressing the arch of the foot. Make of that what you will. It’s also not necessarily the best unit if you suffer edema.
7. Osito Medic Foot Massager
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The Osito Medic Foot Massager tries to do a lot of things and winds up doing most of them pretty well. It’s designed to stimulate feet and to stimulate and relieve tension in upper body muscles by way of its TENS pads (1).
What we like: Whether you use the TENS pads or not you’ll likely appreciate how effectively it reliefs aching foot muscles. If you don’t want to partake of that feature it’s no problem. You’ll still be able to enjoy the effective way its sole massage roller and 99 levels of stimulation melt away the stress in your feet.
Flaws: It’s biggest flaw is its look. It’s the ultimate example of “don’t judge a book by its cover”. It’s also a foot-top unit, so your feet can, and probably will, slip off occasionally.
8. InvoSpa Shiatsu Foot Massager
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There are a lot of things to like about this unit. Start with the fact that it provides a reliably relaxing shiatsu-style massage. Move on to the 3 pressure modes for the rollers and your choice of backward or forward action.
What we like: It’s very relaxing when the heat is on and the rollers are doing their thing. It’s also quiet and reasonably energy efficient. There’s also plenty of heat to bake away the stress and the unit shuts down automatically after 15 minutes.
That auto shut-off ensures you’re not wasting electricity if you get called away and forget to turn it off. Maybe best of all it’s a truly compact device that won’t devour your bedroom, office or living room.
Flaws: Not the best for addressing issues like edema. And, of course, it loses a few points for not having a remote.
9. Snailax Shiatsu Foot Massager
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The Snailax Foot Massager uses a combination of heat, rollers and air compression to deliver a massage experience that’s hard to beat for the price. The unit is compact, comfortable and features 3 intensity levels along with 3 auto massage modes.
What we like: The rollers are some of the most effective we tested. We also like that the foot sleeves are removable and washable.
It’s simple to use, quiet and well-built and does a good job relieving muscle tension and working the plantar fascia.
Flaws: There’s no way to adjust the heat. In addition, there’s no remote. So you’ll have to make your adjustments manually.
10. Gideon Shiatsu Foot Massager
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The last of our best foot massages is the Gideon Shiatsu Foot Massager. It provides an array of 8 nodes that roll against the soles of your feet working out knots and providing relief to the plantar fascia. There’s no need to slip your feet into anything. Just set them on the top and let the infrared heat penetrate your aching muscles.
What we like: Those nodes we mentioned are stainless steel balls that rotate a full 360 degrees to really work out the kinks and ramp up the relaxation. The sensation produced by these nodes is strangely satisfying. The infrared heating is also surprisingly effective.
The ‘acupuncture’ nodules at toe and heel are really more about keeping your feet in place while the balls rotate than they are about acupuncture. But we’ll forgive the marketing department their imaginative excesses.
Flaws: The unit does not shut off automatically. This could be an issue if you’re called away and forget to turn it off. It’s not a big issue but something to be mindful of.
Why Do People Use Foot Massagers?
People use foot massagers for a variety of good reasons that we will get to in depth in the benefits section below. For now suffice to say that if you spend a great deal of time on your feet or if you suffer from arthritis, flat feet, bunions or other foot issues, you are likely to find a foot massager to be just what the doctor ordered.
How We Ranked
Contemporary foot massage machines employ a variety of different methods to obtain their results. Some emulate shiatsu massage (1), employing electronically powered rollers that knead the tissue of the foot and mimicking the action of most massage therapists. Still others employ water jets that take the place of the rollers and work the muscles of the feet. Most modern foot massagers also bring heat to bear on your tired sore foot muscles. We like to see a combination of methods that will provide the customer with the most ways to obtain relief. So one-trick ponies had a difficult time making our list.
Heat is an important component of the modern foot massage machine. After all, you want – and we expect – a piece of technology like this to provide things we can’t obtain any other way. That’s called progress. So while the intrepid massage therapist may be able to work magic with their hands it’s unlikely they’re able to swaddle your poor, tired paws in an envelope of relaxing heat. (Sure, they could use a warm towel but they tend to cool off pretty quickly.) So, we want to see heat in our foot massagers. That said, there are some that do a bang up job without providing heat. But if two massagers are otherwise equal and one also offers heat, that’s the one that would get the nod for our list.
Some foot massagers provide a remote control so you don’t have to bother bending over to make adjustments. With most, however, the controls are fixed to the body of the massager. But it’s not just the location of the controls that matters. It’s the type and number of control options as well. Does the massager allow you to adjust the speed of the rollers? Does it allow you to adjust the temperature? Can you change the duration of the massage? Does it offer automatic shut off (important if you walk away and forget to turn the machine off). These are the kind of features we look for when assessing the various electronic massagers on the market today.
This is something you’re going to keep around the house. So it shouldn’t be huge, heavy and clumsy. Most people will want to be able to slip it under the bed, dresser or sofa or store it in a hall closet. So it can’t be obnoxiously big. And because you’ll probably want to move it from place to place it can’t be too heavy either. Massagers that require you to place your feet physically into the device are going to have to be fairly large. We get that. Still, what we’re looking for are massagers that get the job done without devouring too much space or requiring a fork lift to move them around.
FAQs
Q: Can a foot massager help alleviate back pain?
A: To a certain extent that depends on the source of the back pain. Certainly, if a person is suffering from a herniated disc they’ll need to consider more serious types of therapy (2). Perhaps even surgery. However, if the back pain is the result of standing for long periods of time, or some other less serious cause, it’s likely a good foot massage will help. The foot massage can calm the nerves of the feet and lower legs which can produce an upward cascade of relief that extends into the lower back. You might also want to look into more supportive shoes.
Q: Can foot massagers help with bunions?
A: Yes, foot massagers can help relieve the pain and discomfort associated with bunions. They are also good at relieving pain and stiffness associated with plantar fasciitis. And if you have arthritis that has extended to your feet, you will find a foot massager will likely make your arthritis symptoms much more manageable.
Q: Can a foot massager help someone with diabetes?
A: To the uninitiated this might seem a strange question. But one of the most common side effects of diabetes is peripheral neuropathy (3). In short, high blood sugars can cause damage to the nerves in the extremities, including the toes. Neuropathy symptoms include a loss of reflexes, a loss of feeling as well as tingling and/or numbness. It’s generally believed that massaging the feet regularly can help stimulate blood flow and that can help alleviate some of the symptoms of neuropathy. So yes, in many cases a foot massager can help a person with diabetes.
Q: Will a foot massager induce labor?
A: Stories have circulated for years that foot massages can induce labor. It’s difficult to find reliable information on the subject as most people who address the subject tend to be self-proclaimed experts (and that should tell you something right there). That said, the stories persist and it’s possible, possible, that there’s something to the notion that pregnant women should avoid electric massagers. If only because an electric massager is going to produce an entirely different sort of vibration than a hand massage will produce. Our advice would be that, if you are pregnant, discuss the matter with your doctor before using an electric foot massager.
Q: Are foot massagers expensive?
A: Foot massagers cover the price spectrum from extremely affordable to fairly expensive. There are certainly some decent ones out there for less than $100. But don’t be surprised if the one you have your eye on cost $100 – $200. Maybe even a bit more. You need to weigh the potential benefit against the price, of course. If you regularly experience tired, sore feet then even a couple of hundred dollars for a massager might be money very well spent.
Recap
The modern foot massager provides that much sought-after combination of affordability, convenience and effectiveness. It enables you to recover faster from a long, hard day on your feet. And that alone makes it worth the price of admission for many folks.
But the benefits of the mechanical foot massager don’t stop there. They also provide (at least the best ones do) relief from a range of physical maladies including arthritis, gout, edema, back pain, anxiety and more. While also providing a boost to some people’s sex life.
For cpoe.org’s #1 recommended foot massager, click here.